Management of Delta Air Lines has stated that its officials at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos yesterday allegedly flout of the new Executive Order against the directive of Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo because the airline is studying and yet to understand the new presidential order.
Delta Air Lines made this known today in a statement made available to African Business Travel News (ABTN) through its Nigerian Media Consultants, Topcom, and signed by its principal public relations and Media Consultant, Mohammed Abdullahi .
While the airline claimed it works closely with aviation authorities globally, it however affirmed that it is working with authorities both in Nigeria and United States to understand the new presidential order.
Though it claimed its subjection to security regulations in both countries, it however insisted that the safety and security of its passengers and crew are its first priority.
“Delta Air Lines works closely with aviation authorities around the globe. Delta is actively working with both the authorities in Nigeria and the United States to understand the new Presidential directive and ensure we remain compliant with the respective authorities. Delta is subject to U.S. Government and Nigerian Government security regulations. The safety and security of Delta’s customers and crew is the airline’s number one priority,” the American flag carrier stated.
It would be recalled that The Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, (SAN), recently signed three orders to ease business, fast track budget submissions and promote made in Nigeria goods.
In its efforts to start the full implementation of the Executive Order in Nigerian international airports, management of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) had directed, in line with the Executive Order, that manual screening of passengers should be stopped at airports while security screening desks at check-in-counters of airlines should be removed.
This was what officials of Delta Air Lines resisted yesterday and that almost led to fisticuffs between them and personnel of Aviation Security AVSEC of FAAN even as the airline threatened not check in its Nigerian passengers except they were manually screened.
